Some residents and motorists in Nasarawa State, have decried the recent hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

They said that the increment in the pump price from N617 to N897 per litre, as announced by the NNPCL Retail Management, would further increase the hardship already being faced by Nigerians.

Our correspondents, who went round petrol stations in Lafia, Akwanga and Keffi Local Government Areas reports that most of the stations were selling the product between N950 and N1,000 per litre.

Mr Abu Ibrahim, a resident of Akwanga, called on the NNPCL to revert to the old pump price in the interest of the people.

” Let’s us tell ourselves the truth, this increment in the pump price of fuel will further increase on our hardship.

“Just from yesterday to this morning, the cost of transportation has almost doubled and we can not blame the motorists since they are buying petrol at an exorbitant amount,” he said.

Mr Thomas Bulus, a motorist, called on the Federal Government to be more sensitive to the plight of Nigerians by taking decisions that would lessen the economic burden on the people.

“Nigerians are already suffering and you are increasing the price of fuel, this is unfortunate and unacceptable.

“I bought fuel this morning N1,000 per litre. This will definitely increase transport fare, which in turn will increase hardship,” he said.

Mrs Naomi Jonathan, a business woman in Akwanga, said that the price hike in petrol was already having a ripple effect on cost of good and services, thereby affecting business negatively.

She urged the Federal Government to do the needful urgently in order to improve on the standard of living of citizens.

Another resident of Akwanga, Mr John Godwin, charged the government to be empathetic to the sufferings of Nigerians in view of the current economic hardship in the country.

“How on earth should the government be considering fuel price increment at this time, given the hardship people are facing. This government must have a rethink because the welfare of citizens should be paramount in governance.

Other residents Aisha Ali, Mary Dauda, and Solomon James, all lamented over the hike in pump price of fuel and called on NNPCL to rescind its decision.

In Lafia, motorists also shared the same opinion and urged the government to reduce the price of the product.

They lamented that despite the recent price hike, there was no fuel at the NNPCL Mega Station Lafia as users had to depend on independent marketers to buy the product at a cost ranging from N980 to N1,000

Mr Anthony Attah, a retiree, said that the situation had become unbearable as he could no longer feed his family and fuel his motorcycle, giving his meagre pension.

Mr Umar Audu, a civil servant, said he could no longer afford to fuel his car and had resorted to using commercial tricycle and trek some distance to his place of work.

Also, Shehu Abubakar, a commercial tricylc rider said that the current price hike was affecting business negatively, with a drastic reduction in the number of passengers.

“Most passengers now prefer to trek because we also increase our transport fare because of fuel. Imagine, I bought fuel at 980 per litre this morning in Lafia and you expect me to still charge N200 from Polytechnic gate to Total Junction?” he asked.

In Keffi, residents and motorists bemoaned the price hike and called on the government to be more sensitive to the plight of the people.

Mr Yakubu Hassan, a commercial driver described the current increment as inhuman and unfair to the poor masses, and called on the government to reconsider the decision.

“I call on the government to be sensitive to the plight of the poor in the country. As we speak prices of items have began to go up because of this decision yesterday,” he said.

Mr Sylvester Adaku, a resident also urged the government to be considerate and return the pump price to its former price regime.

He said that more Nigerians would be affected by this decision if nothing was done fast, which could lead to another civil unrest.

“We just witnessed a protest recently all because of bad governance and hunger. I don’t think the government will want another episode again. So I call on the government to have a rethink,” he added (NAN)